FINE DINING MEXICAN STYLE

By
Maryann Miller

Walking into La Parrilla Mexican & American Grill, it is apparent that the restaurant is several steps above a fast-food restaurant. From the cuisine, which has quail, several fish dishes, shrimp, and barbeque ribs added to a wide variety of Mexican dishes, to the decor, everything is better than average. "We wanted to create a fine dining establishment for people near Winnsboro so they wouldn't have to go to Tyler," says Manager Deann Coates. (R) "A good dining experience incorporates all the senses, so we concentrate on the food, the decor, and the ambiance."

La Parrilla, which is on the corner of Walnut and E. Coke Road in Winnsboro, is owned by Ricky Perez and his wife, Kimberly. It started as a Dos Amigo's restaurant, patterned after the one he owned in Big Sandy, but he soon decided to sell the Dos Amigo's and concentrate on the new restaurant in Winnsboro. They shut down for two months and did a major reconstruction of the old diner. Long-time residents might remember when it was Shirley's, but it looks nothing like Shirley's now.

The outside looks like a cafe that could be in Juarez, Mexico, and the interior is filled with artwork created by, Chava, an artist from Canton who is a friend of Ricky and Kim. Benches and planters are intricately carved and painted with colorful scenes, and murals fill many of the walls. The wooden planters are filled with live plants, and many other plants are tucked into nooks and corners.

All creates a comfortable setting to enjoy a lunch or dinner - or the breakfast buffet on Saturdays.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 6am until 9:30pm, although they close at 9pm on Sundays. They serve a breakfast buffet on Saturday only from 6 to 10:30; lunch buffet every day from 11 to 2. On Thursday evenings, there is an all-you-can-eat barbecue special that is served family style. Fridays, guests can enjoy a seafood buffet from 4 until 9, and on Saturdays there is an all-you-can-eat special on quail, fish, and shrimp. "We like to serve the specials family style so people feel more at home," Deann says. "And the food is prepared and cooked fresh as people order more."

Deann, who has been with the company for six years, worked in customer service for American Airlines for 17 years before coming to East Texas, so she knows what it takes to make people feel welcome and satisfied. "Kim and Ricky have the same approach," she says. "The customer comes first, and we train the servers to treat the people as guests, not just a customer."

One of the things she enjoyed most in her job with the airlines was working with the Frequent Flyer program. "I got to know people who flew regularly, and I was able to work with them to donate miles to help fly kids to special places for the Make a Wish Foundation.

"Here we have our own version of the frequent flyer," she jokes. "We have a lot of regular guests that we have come to know as friends, and that means a lot. It strengthens us and it strengthens the community."

Rick, who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, lives in Mineola, but he and Kim often stay in the little house next to the restaurant so they don't have to drive back and forth. His brother, Abel, is the head cook, and other family and friends have helped in one way or another to bring the business to this point of success. And it has been a success, which Deann says has come from focusing on quality food, quality service, and a quality setting.

That success has allowed Rick to quietly do some good deeds - from sending $6,500 to Haiti for relief, to being a major contributor to the building of a family life center at his church. "He believes that if he is blessed, it is his priority to bless others," Deann says. "And he has encouraged the whole La Parrilla family to follow his example."

There are long-range plans to build another La Parrilla in Hawkins, but Deann says she plans to stay with the Winnsboro site if she can. "I would just hate to leave all the wonderful people I have come to know here."